Page 42 of From the Moment We Met

“I don’t want you to be in a bad spot with your girlfriend because of me and too much whiskey. Never mind the fact I’ve kissed you several times—”

“My girlfriend? That was Hannah, my housekeeper. Although lovely, she’s a bit too married for my taste. She lives with her husband in a cottage on the property.”

Lilly smiled, her hand on her hip. “Of course, your housekeeper! My live-in help is away for the week…and the week after that…”

They shared a laugh, and the mood returned to its levity. Jacob settled next to Lilly on the couch, his hand idly stroking her legs as the fire died down.

“You’re very dedicated to your yoga class. I don’t know if I would make an early morning after a night of whiskey and debauchery.”

Lilly giggled and stretched. “I don’t know how much debauchery I’ll be involved in tonight, but they depend on me. I can’t let them down.”

“They can’t survive without one participant?”

“Not when I’m the instructor.”

Jacob’s thoughts shot to the gutter. Lilly must be extremely flexible to hold those yoga poses. “You teach yoga, too? What else do you do on the side—competitive archery?”

“Every Thursday,” Lilly smirked at his look of reproach. “Yes, I’m a yoga instructor and a healing touch practitioner.”

Jacob’s eyes widened. “You’re a what? What’s healing touch?”

“Energy medicine, clearing your auric field.”

“That new age mumbo jumbo?” Jacob lacked experience with alternative methods of healing, most were too off-the-wall for his liking. “But you’re a nurse.”

“I use an integration of Western and holistic principles. There are many paths to healing, and it’s not new age mumbo jumbo.” Lilly shot him a look of reproach.

“Why would someone need healing touch?”

“Anyone can benefit from a session, people with all manner of disease, and those with unresolved issues of sadness, betrayal, anger…” Lilly trailed off, her eyes locked on his face. “I completed a session with Janie this afternoon.”

Jacob started, surprised his straight-laced sister permitted such a strange practice. “I didn’t know doctors would allow that in the hospital.”

Lilly chuckled. “It’s not like I’m doing a session and then not administering her medication. It’s complementary. She said she felt immensely better afterward.”

“Would it benefit someone like me?”

Lilly nodded, and Jacob stood up, unbuttoning his shirt. “Let's do it then.”

Lilly’s eyes widened at his sudden striptease. “Now?”

“Is there a problem? Am I not a candidate?” Jacob wasn’t going to lie, the idea of this woman putting her hands all over his body made him hard as a rock. Hopefully, he could keep it together throughout the session.

“Anyone is a candidate, but I don’t normally practice after I’ve imbibed whiskey. If you really want a session, I can accommodate you, but it won’t work if you don’t have faith in the process, or in me as the practitioner.” Her eyes darted toward another room. “It would be easier on the bed.”

Jacob smiled wickedly, receiving a scathing glare in return. He liked where this was headed. “I’ll meet you in there.”

∞∞∞

Lilly

No one will believe Jacob Edmonton is half-naked in my bed right now, Lilly thought as she walked into her room. Jacob laid across the bed, looking so delectable she had to stop herself from jumping on him. No one should be that attractive. He resembled a chiseled marble statue—absolutely delicious.

His eyes tracked her every move as she lit some candles. Lilly tried to ignore the hammering of her heart as she directed him to a comfortable position, her hands resting on his arm.

Lilly explained the process and Jacob smiled, a wry smirk. “Are you going to be serious about this? I need you to trust me.”

His fingertips reached up to trace her lips, sending tingles down her body. “I do trust you. I’ve always trusted you.”

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